Reflex action measuring device



Dec. 2, 1952 U TORRICELLI 2,619,956

REFLEX ACTION MEASURING DEVICE Filed June 29, 1951 INVENTOR. U60 .7019316836 LI Patented Dec. 2, 19542Y REFLEX ACTION MEASURING DEVICE Ugo Torricelli, New York, N. Y., assigner to Torricelli Creations, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of' New York Application June 29, 1951, Serial- No. 234,397

7 Claims.

This invention relates. to a device for measuring the reflex actions of the limbs of humans;

It is an object of the invention to provide a measuring device adapted to receive the end of a limb of a human so that the amount of deiiection vof that limb can be indicated or recorded upon a graduated scale, forming a part of the device.

I-t is another object of the invention to provide a measuring device for the reflex actions of the limbs of the human body which is adjustable to diierent elevations for differing limb lengths and wherein an arm, engaging with the end of the limb, is adjustable by a simple procedure and whereinviny effecting the adjustment of the various parts of the device, adjusting screws and handles are unnecessary.

Other objects of the invention are to` provide a device for measuring the reflex actions of human limbs with the above objects in mind, which is of simple construction, inexpensive to manufacture, has a minimum number of` parts, is compact, is easy to collapse and to extend, and is accurate and eiiicient in use.

For other objects and advantages and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may behad to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawe ing, in which:

Fig'. 1 is a perspective view of a measuring device embodying the features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, collective andperspective view of certain parts'of the device.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary View, of fthe measuring arm and segment assemblyA and as viewed generally on line 3,3 of Fig. 2where the parts shown in Fig. 2 are joined together.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken through the pivot connection of the arm and the segment and as viewed generally along line 4-4 of the parts-shown in Fig. 2 were these parts to be assembled.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of' the extendable arm parts, and

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional' view taken on line lie-tofFg. 5.

Referring now to the drawing,A I 0 represents a pedestal base, having an upstanding threaded projection I I and a sleeve I2 is threaded-upon the threaded projection II. Other sleeves of increasingly smaller diameters and indicated, respectively, at I3 and I4 are `telescopically connected with one another and with the sleeve I2 whereby `the assembly of sleevescan be extended or retracted to different elevations so that the 2. device can be properly aligned with the limb of the patient.

The upper end of the sleeve It has an inclined bracket formation I5 to which an open segment it is attached by rivets I1.

In the lower end of the segment i6 there is a pivot pin ISA which supports an arm member I3 depending from the segment and which has rig-4 idly i'ixed to the same an upstanding short arm: fastened together by screws entering respectively openings 24 and.

2l. These arms are 22 and 23 of the arms. 21 are provided the space therebetween receives disc portion 2'8 of the arm disc portions 26 and 21 of the short arml 2I and the holes 25- are provided in the portion 23of the depending arm I 9 for the purpose described.

The segment I G-has atits lower end an arcuate portion 3I` over which indicating arm 32A rides. The indicating arm 32` is recessed at 33A along one side to receive the short arm 2|, and is bifurcated to provide spaced ring projections 34 and 35. The pivot pin I3 extends through these projections 34 and 35 and serves as a pivoton which the arm 32 can turn. The arm 32 is swept by the short arm 2| as the depending arm I9 and the extendable members thereon are pushed' forwardly. The segment I6 has an arcuate portion 31 under which the indicating arm 32 operates. The indicating arm 32 has a slot 38 in its upper end and the portions on the opposite sides thereof are pointed for indicating purposes with respect to measuring marks or graduations 35i on the said arcuate portion 31;

The bottom of the slot` 38is recessed as indicated at 4I and receives a U-shapedspring element I2. Adjustablein the slot 38 is auspring pressed member-@having a top arcuate edge it conforming to the underedge of the arcuate por" tion 31. The bottom edgeof thel member/,I3 is recessed asfindicatedat 45to receive the opposite side of the springflIZ.

AdjustablyA connected to` the depending' arm I9rare a' set of members Vwhich can be articulated and extended downwardly and laterally. to provide generallyva footreceivingportion 41 against which the foot ofA ailirnb lifis adapted to be pressed.I As the reex nerve in the region of the knee is struck the foot of the limbV will moveup'- wardlyv and take with itthearticulated members connectedto the dependingarm iSHand the short-arm 2Iwill` sweep the indicating arm 32 to aposition where it will' be heldby the spring pressed member 44 so that a permanent indica- Bifurcated disc portions 26 and on the short arm 2|, Fig. 2, and.

I9. The holes 24 are provided in they tion will be made on the arcuate portion of the segment. Once the reading has been recorded, the arm 32 can be moved back to the zero position.

The articulated members are locked together by a pin pivot i9 held in place by a spring 5|. These members, as may be identiiied at 52, respectively have on their opposite ends depressed areas 53 that nest with one another and through which the pin i9 extends'. With the members 52 swung so that they are longitudinally aligned, the sections which are depressed, as indicated at 3, will be nested with one another as shown in Fig. 6. These members can be angled at 90 degrees relative to one another so that they may extend to a position as shown in Fig. 5 in dotdash lines. The same spring 5| will hold the members together by means of the rivet. The head of the rivet 49 can be provided with a knob 56. The articulated members 52 can accordingly be articulated to provide the foot portion assembly 41 at diiferent elevations and to a different lateral extent.

By the supporting stand or sleeve members being telescopically adjustable the segment I6 can be elevated readily and easily to locate the segment at a good location for easy reading and the articulated members 52 can be adjusted to the different length of the limb being tested for reflex action.

Vhile various changes may be made in the details of construction, it is to be understood that such changes shall be deemed to fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A device for measuring the reflex action of humans, comprising a base, Vertical supporting means extending upwardly from the base, l a measuring segment connected to the upper end of the vertical supporting means, indicating means pivoted upon the segment, said segment having an arcuate portion over which the indicating means may be moved, operating means pivoted upon the segment and engageable with the indicating member and depending downwardly therefrom, said operating means being provided with a laterally extending portion engageable by a limb, whereby the operating means will be actuated as the reiiex action of the limb is tested and an indication will be recorded upon the arcuate portion of the segment by the indicating means.

2. A device for measuring the reflex action of humans, comprising a base, vertical supporting means extending upwardly from the base, a measuring segment connected to the upper end of the vertical supporting means, indicating means pivoted upon the segment, said segment having an arcuate portion over which the indicating means may be moved, operating means pivoted upon the segment and engageable with the indicating member and depending-downwardly therefrom, said operating means provided with a laterally extending portion engageable by a limb, whereby the operating means will be actuated as the reflex action of the limb is tested and an indication will be recorded upon the arcuate portion of the segment by the indicating means, and said vertical supporting means comprising members vertically adjustable with respect to each other.

3. A device for measuring the rellex action of humans, comprising a base, vertical supporting means extending upwardly from the base, a measuring segment connected to the upper end of the vertical supporting means, indicating means pivoted upon the segment, said segment having an arcuate portion over which the indicating means may be moved, operating means pivoted upon the segment and engageable with the indicating member and depending downwardly therefrom, said operating means provided with a laterally extending portion engageable by a limb, whereby the operating means will be actuated as the reflex action of the limb is tested and an indication will be recorded upon the arcuate portion of the segment by the indicating means, and said operating means having depending articulated members whereby the length of the operating means may be varied.

4. A device for measuring the reiiex action of humans, comprising a base, vertical supporting means extending upwardly from the base, a measuring segment connected to the upper end of the vertical supporting means, indicating means pivoted upon the segment, said segment having an arcuate portion over which the indicating means may be moved, operating means pivoted upon the segment and engageable with the indicating member and depending downwardly therefrom, said operating means being provided with a laterally extending portion engageable by a limb, whereby the operating means will be actuated as the reilex action of the limb is tested and an indication will be recorded upon the arcuate portion of the segment by the indicating means, said operating means comprising a short arm and a depending arm secured to each other, said short arm being engageable with the indicating means, said short arm, depending arm and indicating means having a common pivot with a single pivot pin extending therebetween, and spring pressed means engaging with the arcuate section of the segment to hold the indicating means in a position to which it has been moved by the short arm.

5. A device for measuring the reflex action of humans, comprising a base, vertical supporting means extending upwardli7 from the base, a measuring segment connected to the upper end of the vertical supporting means, indicating means pivoted upon the segment, said segment having an arcuate portion over which the indicating means may be moved, operating means pivoted upon the segment and engageable with the indicating member and depending downwardly therefrom, said operating means being provided with a laterally extending portion engageable by a limb, whereby the operating means will be actuated as the reflex action of the limb is tested and an indication will be recorded upon the arcuate portion of the segment by the indicating means, and said vertical supporting means being adjustable to diiferent heights and said operating means having depending articulated members operable to dispose the foot or limb engaging part of the articulated members at different distances from the pivot point of the segment.

6. A device for measuring the reex action of humans comprising means adapted to be engaged by a human limb and to be moved by such limb during the reflex action thereof, indicating means connected to and movable in response to movements of said limb-engaging means, measuring means adapted to be traversed by said indicating means during movement thereof and means for adjustably supporting said limb-engaging means,

-indicating means and measuring means, .whereby 6 said device may be employed to measure the re- REFERENCES CITED ex actionpf limbs of digerent dimensions: The following references are of record in the 7. A device for measuring the reiiex actlon of me of this patent:

humans as dened by claim 6, in which said measuring means includes an open segment hav- 5 FOREIGN PATENTS ing an arcuate portion bearing measuring indicia Number Country Date and said indicating means moves in the opening 44,018 Austria Sept. 10, 1910 of such segment and has terminal portions straddling said arcuate portion and serving as measurement indicators with respect to said indicia. 10

UGO TORRICELLI. 

